Incat set to launch giant catamaran

Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat is about to launch the biggest catamaran ever built in Australia.

The 112 metre long ship has been built for a Japanese ferry company.

It will carry 800 passengers and more than 300 cars between the north and main islands of Japan.

A second ship of the same size is also under construction.

The contract for the two ships is worth more than $200 million.

Incat chairman, Robert Clifford, says there have been a number of logistical hurdles in the construction of such a large ship.

"The shed's been designed to suit this kind of craft but oh yes, there's plenty of complications in building a craft of this size, challenges all the way along the line, challenges complying with Japanese requirements," Mr Clifford said.